MSI Press Blog

  Every traditionally published author eventually opens a royalty statement, sees the numbers, and feels that familiar jolt of disappointment. This is all I earned? After everything I did? Traditional publishing can make authors feel powerless, especially because the reporting is opaque. But you’re not without options. You can’t change the contract, but you can influence the ecosystem around it. Here’s what you can do when your royalties don’t match your expectations. 1. First: Understand What Your Publisher Can and Cannot See This is the part most authors never hear clearly: Publishers who distribute through Ingram cannot see: Sales by retailer Sales by channel Sales by region Amazon‑specific data Library‑specific data Indie bookstore breakdowns Ingram provides only total units sold per ISBN per period. That’s it. No granularity. So when authors ask, “How many copies sold on Amazon?” the publisher literally does not know. What publishers can see: Total units sold (all r...

  When a $3.34 Deposit Means More Than It Looks Most authors have received a royalty statement that made them laugh — not because it was large, but because it was tiny. A few dollars. A few cents. A number so small it feels almost absurd. But those tiny deposits are messages in a bottle. They say: Someone found your book. Someone cared enough to buy it. Someone spent time with your words. In an industry obsessed with launches, lists, and metrics, it’s easy to forget that books live slow, wandering lives. They travel through time. They find readers long after we’ve stopped tracking them. And sometimes they send back a little signal, a quiet acknowledgment that the work still matters to someone. A $3.34 royalty isn’t a paycheck. It’s a whisper: I reached someone. And for many authors, that whisper is worth more than the number on the statement.T hese Tuesday talks reflect real discussions between the management of MSI Press LLC and our own authors or those would-be authors ...

  Understanding royalties is one of the most important—and most misunderstood—parts of publishing. The numbers look simple on paper, but the basis on which they’re calculated can dramatically change what an author actually earns. Below is a clear, practical overview of what’s typical, what’s fair, and how to protect yourself from the “hidden math” of net‑based royalties. 1. The Two Royalty Models: List vs. Net Royalties on List (Cover Price, MSRP) Calculated on the book’s full retail price Transparent and predictable Example: 10% of a $20 hardcover = $2 per copy Royalties on Net (Net Receipts) Calculated on what the publisher actually receives after retailer discounts and other deductions Retailer discounts are typically 40–55% A “10% royalty” on net often yields far less than a “10% royalty” on list “Net” may include deductions such as freight, warehousing, marketing fees, and returns Which Is Better? List‑based royalties are almost always better for authors Ne...